A weekly podcast tracing the history of the Roman Empire, beginning with Aeneas's arrival in Italy
and ending with the exile of Romulus Augustulus,
last Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Now complete!

I began listening at pocast #1 about 2 months ago. I am officially up to date. Thanks for giving me something worthwhile to listen to while I push boxes around at work in the early am. Incredible show. Thank you.

It would be interesting to hear about changes in technology through the life of the empire (specifically agriculturally and militarily). And, when do the lauded Spanish silver mines dry up?

One suggestion (and likewise wish) would be the creation of a number of standalone podcasts dealing with various topics in Roman society, economy, culture, military, technology, etc, which don't necessarily fit into the standard chronological podcast format but which nevertheless podcast listeners could refer to and listen to whenever they want. Such a series of lectures would add further value to an already outstanding series...

@johnc, this is quite a good idea (sorry Mike) but I was just thinking today that a repeat of the 100th episode Q&A format may be worthwhile. It was a great episode... although we should be patient and wait for episode 200 or at a natural break.

Mike, glad to have you back and I don't think you should beat yourself up about the Saul Tigh quote, because I too just got into the BSG reboot and also have a memory of that quote from the show. There's no way for me to conflate anything because I've never seen HBO's Rome. I'm not absolutely sure it was Tigh, but he's the most likely character that would have said it. It's gonna bother me until I find it, so I'll get back to you on the exact episode number, but I'm pretty sure I'm right about the quote and as such, so are you.

I am currently at episode 109 and going through 3 to 5 eps a week. I wish I could slow down the rate so I won't catch up with the rest of you until later:) The down side to that is I am not able to ask question while the topic is fresh.

But this I have to ask before Goths start invading the empire in the next few episodes on my calender:

What was the climate like in Europe during the Roman expansion and retreat? Is there sufficient anecdotal evidence in ancient writings that might suggest climate was as warm if not warmer than now?

I am talking about the so-called Roman Warm Period, of course, which is a bit of a touchy subject for some people (Wikipedia won't even allow a page on it apparently because it is not considered as scientifically certain as Medieval Warm Period).

Each time I hear about one Emperor or another campaigning along the Northern frontier, I wonder how the climate was like then.

Well, Mike, how was the climate like in Roman times, especially in the North? Is there any historical anecdotal evidence to support the claim that Rome was invaded from the North by tribes running away from cold temperatures?

I am also looking forward to the mention in the podcast of the city I was born and grew up in: Diyarbekir (Amida) on the Tigris.

I think it already got a mention in Episode 105 as one of those places taken from the Sassanids during Alexander Severinus's reign.

But the town (village, perhaps) had already been taken by Romans as far back as 66 BC, during the Third Mithridatic War.

From where I grew up Rome was a far, far away western city that couldn't possibly have anything to do with me.

It never occurred to me that my place of birth was conquered by the Romans even before Britain and Gaul.

But there is more. The city's iconic walls was built by Constantin II. It is still standing and it still looks imposing. It's a pity I never appreciated its historic value when we were little kids playing hide and seek in its shadows.

@sHx
Wow, the dark stone of the walls of Diyarbak must have been one of the most unusual and beautiful in the empire. Amazing to have the childhood memories and being blissfully unaware of the significance of what was essentially your playground. The walls are well preserved. May that be because of the climate? Or has it served the community to maintain them? Thankyou for sharing.

The wall was built of black basalt, which is common in the area near an extinct volcano. All historic buildings in Diyarbekir (Amida) carries that signature look.

The wall was instrumental in winning a military conflict as late as 1925, when besieging Kurdish rebels failed to take the city quickly. Kurds consider it as their capital city and would very much like to change the name to 'Amed'.

City residents take immense pride in the walls, some calling it the 'Castle'. A few of the 82 round towers (many of which were added to the wall over the centuries) have their own individual history and mythology among the locals.

From the pictures it looks as though much restoration and preservation work has gone in to the wall. It certainly looks better than I last saw it more than two decades ago.

Hi sHx
Ahh black basalt! I understand now. Where I live was once an active volcanic area. There are basalt outcrops along the north west coastline of Tasmania. Inland, the soils are distinctive red/brown as well, a byproduct of weathering, good for growing vegetables!
Hope to one day visit Diyarbekir to see the walls myself. Until you posted about this place I knew nothing of it. Thankyou for sharing.